There was no intention of playing in HV71 this season. Herman Träff was instead loaned out to Nybro to "get a lot of playing time and get into senior hockey", according to general manager Chris Abbott.
Three matches were played in HockeyAllsvenskan – then the forward was back in Jönköping. However, only to play two matches, due to the injury situation.
"Love to play"
I love to play hockey and am grateful to get to play matches, he says to TV4 Play.
To develop, you need to play matches and I feel that I've got a good role in Nybro. They've taken care of me.
Träff set 2–0 after 12.22 of the second period – which was his first SHL goal.
Previously, Hugo Pettersson also scored his debut goal in the league, 1–0 after 13.31 of the first period.
I've been with HV all my life and been here watching matches. It was an honor to get to wear the jersey last season and now to score the first goal, against the home team... Unreal, says Pettersson.
Zero for Alnefelt
Beside Pettersson's and Träff's first goals, goalkeeper Hugo Alnefelt managed to save 33 shots and keep a clean sheet. Details that gave 2–0 – the season's first win.
Thus, the trend with four straight losses is just a memory.
I like our third period. It's easy, when you come with the baggage we have, to become small and back down, says coach Anton Blomqvist and praises the team's young duo who were behind the win.
And then he's the one in the back. He comes from a tough period in recent seasons, when he's been away in the farm league and struggled.
I'm incredibly impressed by how Hugo has tackled this, not playing the first matches, keeping focus, supporting his colleague, and then when he gets to step in and can do it in the way he does... It's incredibly impressive and a role model for many.